Today we’d like to introduce you to Elise Martin.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew up in Saudi Arabia, I finished HighSchool early at the age of 16 and as a result, I got my degree in web design and my teacher’s aide diploma while I was in Saudi Arabia since there was no college in the 90’s that would take expat women at that time. After exploring Canada, I eventually ended up becoming a KG teacher on Abu Dhabi, UAE.
After a few months, I met a woman who needed help with refugee interviews and translation during the Iraqi refugee crisis. I had grown up in Saudi Arabia and Arabic was my second language, able to speak and understand many dialects and translate to English she asked me to come and volunteer where she worked at UNHCR (The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). I did this for a little while before heading to my teaching job early in the morning until eventually, she offered me a job which I accepted.
Working my way along and after a brief internship with UNDSS (United Nations Department of Safty and Security) I was hired in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as the HR that took care of the UNHCR MENA region (Middle East and North Africa), I served as the Senior Admin/Finance in Abu Dhabi, UAE and Senior Admin in Dubai before moving and finally ending up in Dallas, TX to be near my family.
I worked at D Magazine in Dallas and just had a blast, what a great culture and wonderful group of people, although I worked for D Magazine as an Admin Assistant and it was way below my experience and skill set, I welcomed the break from great stress and responsibility that exists in the UN. After two years with D Magazine, I was hired by a finance firm and eventually joined my husband to build an amazing business where I am now the Chief Marketing Officer and I love every day.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I believe it was Robert Frost who said he took the road less traveled by and thus was the case for me. Was it always a smooth road not at all but growing up overseas and learning a second language and culture at the age 3 changed my trajectory forever, it was never meant for my road to be smooth or ordinary and I embraced every moment of it.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the DarenMartin.com story. Tell us more about the business.
I am what you could call an expert in everything, I try to dabble in everything I can get my hands on. In our company, I am both marketing team, marketing officer, videographer, photographer, Web Designer, Advertising department, Executive Assistant and Sales Team but I am most known for my video editing I guess, it is also the part of my job that I enjoy the most.
I am most proud of how far our company has come since I joined last year, I spent almost a whole year on content creation, brand awareness and increasing our online presence, it has been a lot of fun!
What sets me apart from others? I don’t know. I don’t see my self as different even though I often feel very different because of my second language, growing up overseas in another culture and the adventures I had working for the UN while putting myself through college. I can only think that what sets me apart is that I am a very efficient self-learner, reading more than 8 books at a time I am always hungry for more information and an understanding of everything.
I am not content to just be shown how to do something I want to know why we do things and how things work so that I can find ways to improve the process where it is needed and eliminate the process where it is needed. I have never taken a liking to fiction reading and as a result, I read a lot of technical books and thought books that help me always expand my horizons, think outside the box and consider options and directions for our business that the competition is not willing to consider.
To be successful in today’s quickly changing landscape you need to be always learning and that’s how I like to be.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t know if I believe in good luck or bad. I think we make our own luck and what people call good luck is being ready for something when it arrives and grabbing hold. I am blessed to have had a very diverse and inspiring life starting at a young age which makes me always thankful for the little things, I live life in color!
Contact Info:
- Address: 2011 Cedar Springs Rd
- Website: www.darenmartin.com
- Phone: 46940980179
- Email: elise@darenmartin.com
- Instagram: elise_m_martin
- Twitter: @elisemartin22
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisemmartin
Image Credit:
Benjamin Arthur
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